...Petition party leadership, seek Tinubu's intervention over alleged assembly ticket swap
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State have rejected the alleged substitution of the party's House of Assembly candidate for Akoko South-West Constituency I, warning that the move could trigger discontent among grassroots members.

The stakeholders, who gathered in Oka on Wednesday, insisted that Akogun Olubenga Omole, whom they said emerged winner of the APC primary election, should remain the party's candidate for the constituency.

Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, former Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor, Hon. Christopher Omolorun, said the meeting was convened following reports that Omole's name might be substituted with that of another aspirant, Raymond Daodu.

According to Omolorun, the stakeholders decided to raise the alarm before the alleged substitution becomes a reality, stressing that the people of Oka would not accept what they described as an attempt to impose a candidate on them.

"We are hearing a rumour that the person we voted for, Akogun Olubenga Omole, may have his name substituted in Abuja. We will not accept that from any quarter. We want Mr. President and the party leadership to know that Oka people reject any attempt to impose a candidate on us," he said.

Omolorun, who served as Deputy Director-General of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa's campaign in Akoko South-West Local Government and Returning Officer during the APC governorship primary in the council, said Omole scored 4,648 votes during the primary election, while Raymond Daodu polled 921 votes.

He warned that disregarding the outcome of the primary election could weaken the APC's support base in the constituency, recalling previous elections in which, according to him, voters rejected candidates perceived to have been imposed on them.

The APC chieftain appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the national leadership of the party to ensure that the mandate freely given to Omole by party members was respected. He also urged the leadership to carry Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, whom he described as the leader of the party in Ondo State, along in resolving the issue.

Responding to questions from journalists, Omolorun said while Oka people remained committed to supporting President Tinubu, any decision to replace Omole could affect the party's performance in future elections in the constituency.

Also speaking, the APC Chairman in Akoko South-West Local Government, Sunday Agbede, commended party members for choosing a peaceful approach instead of violence in expressing their grievances.

Agbede disclosed that stakeholders had mandated him to deliver a protest letter to the APC State Chairman to formally notify the state leadership of the alleged substitution.

"The people voted for Akogun Olubenga Omole during the primary, but by the time the result was announced, another person's name appeared. We want peace because elections are approaching and we must remain one family to secure victory," he said.

He added that the party in the local government remained loyal to the APC and President Tinubu, expressing confidence that the matter would be resolved through the appropriate channels.

One of the former House of Assembly aspirants, Biola Balogun, said six aspirants voluntarily stepped down for Omole before the primary election because of what he described as the former lawmaker's popularity and record of performance.

Balogun described the reported substitution as unacceptable, warning that imposing another candidate could discourage party members from participating fully in the election. He urged the party leadership to uphold the outcome of the primary and allow Omole to fly the APC flag in Akoko South-West Constituency I.